![Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen looks on during a rookie minicamp at Miller Electric Center Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/jaguars-liam-coen-scaled.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars: Ink Late-Round Steal to 4-Year Deal")
The Jacksonville Jaguars needed to address the running back position this offseason after ranking 26th in rushing yards and tied for 22nd in rushing touchdowns in 2024. Travis Etienne Jr. enters the final year of his contract after a rough fourth season and is not a lock to start in Year 5. There were rumors that the Jaguars were shopping their former 1st-round pick, but Liam Coen later shot this down.
Jacksonville Jaguars draft an ACC star on Day 3
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected former Virginia Tech Hokies Bhayshul Tuten 104th overall in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He is considered a late-round steal because of his blazing speed, running a 4.32 40-yard dash, the fastest by a running back at the combine, and the potential to be an every-down back. Tuten has a chance to start as a rookie or later on in his career.
After spending his first two years of college with the North Carolina A&T Aggies, Bhayshul Tuten transferred to the Virginia Tech Hokies for the 2023 season. He had a solid two-year stint with Virginia Tech, rushing for 2,022 yards on 5.7 yards per attempt and 25 touchdowns in 24 games, earning him a Second-Team All-ACC selection in 2023 and 2024. Tuten had a great senior year, rushing for a career-high 1,159 yards on 6.3 yards per attempt and 15 touchdowns in 11 games.
Jacksonville Jaguars ink late-round steal to 4-year deal
The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed Bhayshul Tuten to a four-year rookie contract. According to Spotrac’s projection, the deal is worth $5,274,529 with a $1,074,529 signing bonus. Tuten is projected to make $1,108,632 in Year 1, $1,273,632 in Year 2, $1,388,632 in Year 3, and $1,503,632, with an opportunity to earn more with Proven Performance Escalators in Year 4.
Here’s Lance Zierlein’s scouting report on him
“If you spend too much time focusing on the small inconsistencies of Tuten’s college game, you run the risk of overlooking the match he is for the pro game. He’s an explosive athlete with average size but a compact frame. He has elite straight-line speed and easy hips to make sudden cuts and turns.
“He’s fairly average at reading the front and running with early decisiveness but creates with wiggle, power and speed. Drops and fumbles are a concern, but runners with his contact balance, power and home run speed put tremendous stress on defenses over four quarters. Tuten could become a starting-caliber back with three-down value.”
